Effect of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training on platelet adhesiveness under shear flow in sedentary men

Aerobic or resistance exercise may modulate the risk of vascular thrombotic events. This study investigated how combined aerobic and resistance exercise training influenced platelet adhesiveness under various shear flows. Twelve healthy sedentary males were trained on a bicycle ergometer (60% VO 2max for 30 minutes) for 3 days per week and an isokinetic dynamometer (alternating 60°–180°/s for 6 to 10 sessions) for 2 days per week for 6 weeks. A novel microfluidic chamber combined with fluorescence instrument, which provided shear stress values covering the entire physiological range of human circulation, was used to assess platelet adhesiveness in whole blood. The experimental results demonstrated that a higher degree of platelets adhered to fibronectin‐coated surface revealed at 5 dyne/cm 2 compared to 1 dyne/cm 2 of shear stress. Strenuous, acute exercise significantly increased the platelet adhesiveness under 1 and 5 dyne/cm 2 of shear stresses. However, combined aerobic and resistance exercise training suppressed the extents of shear‐mediated platelet adhesiveness at rest and immediately strenuous exercise. Hence, these findings may provide an effective strategy for developing a suitable exercise regimen that prevents early thrombotic events, further retarding the progression of cardiovascular disease.